Head-on pass: Yes or no?

[Alex614]

Is it generally a good or bad idea to go for a head-on pass? If you outgun your enemy, wouldn't a head-on pass make it easier to gun them down. Say, with a federal defense fighter?

 

[ZeeWolf]

You should probably apply a little u/d or l/r thrust while they are approaching you and try to strafe. You can still train your gun sites but you can often move out of the way of the enemy firing arc (especially Cobras).

Really you want to be on the enemy's tail obviously, but I don't find NPC pilots to be much of a problem when they are coming head on.

Human commanders are another story, they won't break the attack and they'll be on your tail quickly.

 

[Memnoch]

It might be a good idea if you have a larger ship and bigger weapons. Otherwise it becomes a question of who fired first, how good their aim is and how many pips they have in Systems.

 

[Tacheel]

If you're in a cobra you won't be able to outturn a more nimble ship, so you want range, doesn't matter which way the enemy if facing as long as you can outgun them.

In a smaller ship it's a no no.

 

[Wallwork]

From my experience against NPC pilots while in the sidewinder I suggest the following:

Federal Fighter - They don't usually go for head on passes, because if you hit them a few times at range they disengage.

Eagle - They love the head on pass, a sidewinder in good condition can usually drop their shields and do some hull damage on a pass without losing shields

Cobra - Not very maneuverable, so it is unlikely you will get in to a head on situation, just move to their back

Lakon - Nope

Annaconda - Double nope

 

[Captain N]

The NPC's don't use power distribution so if you put all power to shields you can basically outgun almost anything head-on. Including Cobras while in a Sidewinder.